Annotation
The course begins on Oct. 11.
The aim of the course is to grasp the notion of death in Buddhist context. We will approach the topic from the buddhological as well as anthropological perspective. We will learn about the doctrinal concept of death and it cosmological and soteriological significance. We will study death-related rituals in several Buddhist cultures (Far East, Sri Lanka, Tibet), and compare and contrast them with ritual patters we see in non-Buddhist cultures. Also, we shall inquiry into if and how death-related ethical issues are or can be addressed from the Buddhist perspective.
Topics: 1) Buddhism: An Overview 2) Buddhist Cosmology and Soteriology 3) Death and Salvation 4) Rituals of Death 5) Death and Ethics